Rishi Sunak bought a load of mince pies… apparently to hand out to key workers (Picture: PA)
There’s nothing like getting yourself in people’s good books when your job is at risk.
After all, who knows when you might need to cash in your gestures of goodwill as a bargaining tool in the near future?
That’s what one man was spotted doing when he was filmed loading up on six boxes of mince pies at the M&S store at King’s Cross railway station in London on Friday.
Rishi Sunak was captured buying the festive treats, which were apparently to hand out to key workers, according to Sky News.
He then made his way back to his constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire where he’s expected to spend time with his family until at least Christmas Day.
Mr Sunak currently holds the position of prime minister of the United Kingdom – but the role is under increasing threat.
The Labour Party is currently odds-on favourites with the bookies to win the next general election, which is due to take place in 2024, at an average of 1/8.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak’s Tory party has drifted out to 13/2, while his own seat may not even be a forgone conclusion with the way things are heading.
Amid backlash over a raft of issues this week, it seems increasingly likely that he’s going to be seeking work this time next year.
Several people whipped their phones out to capture the 43-year-old ransacking the shelves.
Just as he was seen stocking up on snacks at one of the UK’s busiest stations, people were trying to stomach the hefty 4.9% increase to rail fares next year.
Mr Sunak was pictured handing out treats to colleagues at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday – and it seems he was at it again on Friday (Picture: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)
While Mr Sunak said the rise in prices ‘strikes the right balance’, passengers already paying sky-high prices did not agree, describing it as ‘another unwelcome hike’.
‘These new rail fares will see already hard-pressed passengers hit with another unwelcome price hike,’ a spokesman for watchdog London TravelWatch said.
‘Reform to rail fares and ticketing could not be more urgent now.’
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), said: ‘The Government is presiding over the managed decline of the railways with huge cuts to safety-critical infrastructure spending on one hand whilst allowing privatised train operators to pay out huge shareholder dividends with the other.
‘Meanwhile passengers are once again slapped in the face with massive fare increases proving once again what a categorical failure the fragmented privatised system is.’
Mr Sunak might well be looking concerned if he checks the odds for the next general election (Picture: PA)
Amid the mounting problems for Mr Sunak, he also came under heavy fire from right-wing MPs within his own party on Friday.
The PM has dulled down plans to hike the earnings threshold for migrants bringing family members to Britain, but the move was dubbed a ‘regrettable sign of weakness’ by some of his colleagues.
Mr Sunak said the minimum salary requirement would still be raised to £38,700, but conceded the hike would be ‘phased’ in after it came under fire.
The Government on Thursday quietly announced the threshold would first be increased to £29,000 in the spring, and then increased in ‘incremental stages’, without setting out a timetable.
David Jones, deputy chairman of the right-wing European Research Group, said: ‘The Government should have stuck to its guns.
‘Yesterday’s decision was a regrettable sign of weakness, made worse by the fact that Parliament was not sitting and therefore was unable to interrogate ministers on the reasons for the decision.’
If disillusioned party members and furious rail passengers weren’t enough of a problem this week, he’s also openly criticised junior doctors for their 72-hour strike over pay.
‘The only workforce that is refusing to settle are the junior doctors which is really disappointing,’ he said.
‘Particularly at this time of year when everyone relies so heavily on the NHS and we’ve been consistently constructive and open to talks.
‘I would urge junior doctors to re-engage in those talks and call off strike action. And I think everyone can see that the government has acted constructively here because we’ve managed to reach agreement, as I said, with every other workforce in the NHS.’
Will Mr Sunak have been handing out those mince pies to any striking junior doctors during his travels on train services facing yet another increase in ticketing prices?
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You never know when you need to cash in those gestures of good will.